Letters from the week of September 25, 2003

Music man: Thank you, Jimmy Magahern, for your diligent research into the KCDX-FM 103.1 story ("Ghost Radio," September 18). This station is the best thing to happen to radio around here in, well, since it's commercial-free, maybe ever! For weeks, no other station has been playing on my car radio (and search-and-scan had become a way of life). I am appreciating and rediscovering so many classic songs and hidden gems.

And best of all, New Times has shined a light on a great mystery (the Arizona Republic doesn't even have 103.1 on its weekly station and format list).

As for theories, my money was on the felons; that the "CD" in the call letters for the Florence station was for Corrections Department. I wondered about that when I heard "Hey Joe," but thank God I never heard "Helter Skelter." I imagined it would only be a matter of time before someone down at the Legislature pulled the funding to keep the cons from controlling the airwaves.

Thank you, Ted Tucker, for following your calling! Keep on truckin'!

Craig YoungerChandler

Dialed in: I read the article at lunch, and as soon as I finished work I ran to the car to turn on 103.1. I haven't touched the dial since. What a revelation! No egomaniacal afternoon DJ surrounded by sycophants. No idiot morning teams who think they're hysterical. No one screaming at me to install a new car stereo for a dollar. Just (mostly) great tunes.

I even sit through the occasional blunder ("I Want a New Drug"?) and wait patiently for the next surprise. My 11-year-old thought I was nuts when I screamed gleefully and cranked up "Girls Talk" last night. He doesn't understand.

It was also a great article with some fine investigative sleuthing. But the article failed to answer one question: Why the hell did you wait so long to tell us? I can't believe this has been going on so long and I've been missing it. It can't last, but until it ends, my CDs stay at home.

Mitch KleinScottsdale

Gun Control

Sculptor's tool: As an aunt of two nephews (brothers) who committed suicide with guns, I feel compelled to respond to your article and opinion ("Fear Factor," Spiked, September 18). Not only am I appalled by the insensitive nature of your response to Robert Miley's sculpture, but I am upset that the thought behind the sculpture wasn't given more credence. This sculpture gives meaning in remembrance of my nephews to family members, as the gun they used will be included in the sculpture. In your future opinions, please remember the rest of us who find solace in the sculpture. We didn't ask for our role in supporting this sculpture; rather, it was placed upon us as a duty to inform others and hopefully raise awareness to the unfortunate use of firearms for violence.

Jan GreenVia e-mail

Releasing the fear: I challenge your quote; I do not believe you are "just as sympathetic as the next guy." From the perspective of a mother who has lost her only two sons to suicide by gunfire, I find your article to be less than empathetic. By offering my son Brian's gun to Robert Miley's Release the Fear sculpture, I have alleviated some of the pain I feel every day, the pain I will continue to feel for the rest of my life.

The raw and devastating histories these donated weapons hold for some of us are distant from making political statements or personal judgments about art. I feel grateful for the Release the Fear project. It brings me comfort to know that through this movement others may be guided to make different choices.

Sadly, my sons endured a family history of depression. On June 15, 1994, my oldest son Christopher ended his life at age 21. Eight years later, August 12, 2002, I was shocked and devastated to lose 26-year-old Brian, too. Since Chris' gun had been previously destroyed at my request, my donation of Brian's weapon to Release the Fear is a tribute to honor the memory of both Christopher and Brian Hullet.

In the future, I will feel proud to witness Robert Miley's Release the Fear symbol molded from melted weapons, on the corner of Central and Roosevelt, not only to honor the lives of my sons, but also to remind others that life is indeed very fragile.

Nancy Hullet HendrichVia e-mail

Best of the Best

Drag show: I just wanted to say thank you for the recognition for Boom Boom Larue as "Best Drag Queen Outfitters" (Best of Phoenix, September 18). I really do appreciate it. We are in the process of enlarging the store a bit and remodeling, so we will be anxious to begin another year of service to "Outfitting Drag Queens," and yes, the straight folk are welcome as well.

Sherman BushPhoenix

Circles jerks: I would just like to put in my opinion about the "Best Place to Buy New CDs." It is not Circles. Circles is one of the rudest stores you can go to, the employees are rude and it is overpriced. The place to go would be Best Buy.

Name withheld by request

Domestic gods: Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for recognizing our store, Domestic Bliss, in Best of Phoenix ("Best Place to Be Shabby Chic")! It means a lot to us to be acknowledged by New Times! We put our hearts and souls into our business, doing everything we can to set our store apart from the rest. Sometimes we wonder why we kill ourselves to get every detail just so, but it all seems worth it when it is appreciated by others -- especially by the best of the "Best Of's"!

Dan and Kristin AlberMesa

Ruthless People

A legend in his own mind: Great article on this Abe Ruthless guy ("Ruthless Journey," Brendan Joel Kelley, September 18). I'm so proud you've made my son a media star in his own mind. Now, if only he'd earn a little money doing what he loves rather than making sandwiches at Kinder's Meats and Deli. Perhaps your article will arouse more public condemnation of him and his music, which, of course, is a good thing because it's only rock 'n' roll and we like it.

By the way, the fact that he exhibits a sometimes comparison to Mick Jagger is because when he was a little guy, I always told both him and his brother that it was like this: "Stones, good. Beatles, bad." It worked, thank God.

Howard AlexanderVia e-mail

Special Interests

Holding the Fort: It seriously disturbs me that the military contracts and the bill seem to be intertwined ("River Gamble," John Dougherty, September 18). If, for example, these interests are indeed set in Fort Huachuca, then why are they not already in place and running? Are they going to provide jobs to local people? If Rick Renzi is not considering his father's interests, then why are they waiting for the bill to pass before these contracts are up and running?

I am not surprised by the lack of environmental awareness, just appalled by the lack of forethought and planning. If they destroy that delicate ecosystem, they will never be able to restore it. I, for one, am tired of seeing the places that I grew up loving destroyed by so-called progress.

It is not progress to make your environment unlivable. It is progress to not allow growth in areas where there is not enough water to support the growth. And this means we, as people, have to look ahead, past the possibility of incomes now, to the responsibility of lives later.

Lori TrevinoVia e-mail

Staff Infection

Skirt chaser: The only thing that would be better for the youth at ADJC is if the rest of Dave Gaspar's circle of terror leaves as well ("Gentle Exit," Amy Silverman, August 21). This would include Joe Taylor, Loren Petta, Tom Gronski, EV Veloz, Tony Barrios and the like. This team and Gaspar deserve a great deal of praise: They have the blood of three youths on their hands, they have youths who are self-abusing and needing constant hospitalization, they have a staff turnover rate that is incredibly high, they have demoralized staffers and they have an agency that has run amok. Maybe they should be praised for this; after all, isn't this how criminals should be handled? Oh, wait: These kids have never been found guilty of a crime, they have been civilly committed. Guess being neighbors with the governor did have some advantages.

As a former employee, I breathe a sigh of relief for the kids and staff at ADJC -- the wicked witch is dead. Now if a few more leave, the kids may start to get the help they so desperately need.

As to you, Gaspar, I once had a great deal of faith in you. You, however, chose to surround yourself with terrible behaving people. These people have done horrific things to kids and you did not stop them. Then when the heat became too much, you did not act like a man at all, you hid behind the skirts of Janet and your wife. Shame on you.

Name withheld by request

Food Chain

Johnny come lately: I had yet to read a review of Johnny Chu's restaurant Fate that does the wonderful place justice -- that is, until I recently read your amazing review ("Fate Accompli," Carey Sweet, August 7). I eat there about twice a week, and after I read the Arizona Republic review I was baffled. I could not understand where the critic was coming from. It was completely ridiculous.

I came upon your review afterward and was delighted to see that Phoenix does have critics who know what they are talking about. I think your review was dead accurate and it perfectly embodied the spirit of Johnny's place. Just thought I would give you a quick e-mail to let you know that I was impressed with your review and appreciate people like you in our community.

Leger SteckerPhoenix

As Fate would have it: Recently, for the first time in years, I bought a weekday edition of the Arizona Republic. I had long forgotten that Wednesday was food day.

Do their staffers have great jobs, or what? Cut-and-paste the recipe from a book, write a paragraph of your own, maybe expense a receipt from Bashas', and receive a week's pay. As always, it seems, the Republic (and other cellulose rags) shamelessly follows New Times' lead. Notably, investigative political news. But also your Cafe column.

I read the Food & Drink section's colorful instructions on how to prepare pad thai. I was about to toss the section into my recycle basket, but the front page caught my eye. (I always read the Republic from back to front, not because I'm Japanese but because that's how the paper's relevance seems to be organized.) Howard Seftel was reviewing Fate.

I regret reading it. The man needs some good food like he needs a good lay. Even so, I was struck by the gap between his and your opinion. I don't know, could be just Seftel's vindictive pooh-pooh toward New Times.